LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Bo, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT BO Shevat 5, 5755 Jan. 6, 1995 SPECIAL FEATURE: A Tribute to the Rebbe on 45 Years of Leadership * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5755 "Year of Hakhel" ********************************************* * TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: * * E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org * * FOR CHABAD-LUBAVITCH IN CYBERSPACE: * * E-Mail: info@chabad.org * ********************************************* THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON OF LUBAVITCH "I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH. AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12 ********************* * TABLE OF CONTENTS * ********************* Introduction The Weekly Torah Portion The Rebbe's Prophecy A Call To Action Customs Relating to Yud Shevat - Letter of the Rebbe The Rebbe Writes Yud Shevat There Is No Question A Tribute to the Rebbe The Last Dollar It Happened Once **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, the twelfth issue of our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * In this week's issue, our feature presentation focuses on Yud Shevat. On Yud Shevat (the 10th of Shevat, next Wednesday, January 11), we commemorate the yahrtzeit of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn; it is also the 45th anniversary of the Rebbe's acceptance of leadership. * Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication, published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to use their material. Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for his tireless efforts. * It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW! Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov Administrator Committee for the Blind E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org 24 Tevet, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Bo The very first Passover offering, described in this week's Torah portion, Bo, differed from those that would be offered by future generations in one important respect. That year, and that year only, the Jewish people were commanded to procure the Pascal lamb on the 10th of the month of Nisan--four days before it was to be slaughtered--and to keep it in their homes until the 14th day of the month. Rashi, the great Torah commentator, cites the following explanation: "G-d said, 'The time has come for Me to fulfill My promise to Abraham to redeem his children.' But the Jews had no mitzvot in whose merit they deserved to be redeemed. He therefore gave them two commandments --the Passover offering and the mitzva of circumcision (which the Jews, in their suffering and degradation, had ceased to observe)." Why was it necessary for G-d to give the Jews two mitzvot at that time in history? Why wouldn't one have sufficed to provide them with the merit they needed to be redeemed? If one was not enough, why only two and not more? And, what is the connection between all this and the commandment to keep the Passover lamb in the house for four days? The explanation lies in the fact that these two mitzvot were given to the Children of Israel to correct two specific flaws from which they then suffered. After more than two hundred years of slavery, not only were they bereft of mitzvot, but the Jewish people had also become contaminated by the paganism of the Egyptians. The opportunity to observe the fundamental mitzva of circumcision addressed the first problem; the Passover offering then severed the Jewish people from the idol worship into which they had fallen. To the ancient Egyptians the lamb was a sacred deity. When the Jews brazenly sacrificed the Pascal lamb they thereby showed their contempt for the dominant Egyptian culture and morals. But in order for the break with paganism to be internalized and complete, more than a one-time action was necessary. G-d gave the Jews an extra four days of preparation to afford them the time to reflect upon the great significance their deed truly held. Today, our own historical era closely parallels the period just prior to the exodus from Egypt, for we stand on the very threshold of Moshiach and the Final Redemption. The necessity to "clothe ourselves in mitzvot" exists now as before, for indeed, when Moshiach comes, every single Jew will be personally redeemed from the long and bitter exile. It is therefore incumbent upon us to take positive steps in both directions--encouraging more and more Jews to observe practical mitzvot to increase our collective merit, and, at the same time, transforming the "idol worship" of our own era--the modern obsession with money, career advancement and power--into a channel for bringing G-dliness and the light of Torah into the world. In this manner we will be truly ready to greet Moshiach, speedily in our day. ************************ * THE REBBE'S PROPHECY * ************************ The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and "MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!" The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through increasing acts of goodness and kindness. LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL. ******************************************* * IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDFATHER * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * Pais * ******************************************* ******************** * A CALL TO ACTION * ******************** The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." In this column we present suggestions from the Rebbe's talks of what we can do to complete the Rebbe's work of bringing the Redemption. REGARDING 10 SHEVAT: Among the 16 directives suggested by the Rebbe [1] in connection with the yahrtzeit of the Previous Rebbe: In the morning and afternoon give charity to an institution related to the Previous Rebbe; participate in a chasidic gathering; learn about and tell others about the Previous Rebbe; visit centers for young people and tell them about the love the Previous Rebbe had for them and the hope he had that they would use their energy, warmth and vitality to strengthen Judaism. _______________ 1. The full text of the Rebbe's letter is printed in the next article. ********************************** * CUSTOMS RELATING TO YUD SHEVAT * * Letter of the Rebbe [2] * ********************************** By the Grace of G-d Rosh Chodesh Shevat, 5711/1951 Brooklyn, NY To Anash, to the students of Tomchei Temimim, and to those who have a bond or a relationship with my revered father-in-law, the saintly Rebbe, of blessed memory: G-d bless you all. Greetings and blessings: In reply to the many questions that have been asked about a detailed schedule for the Tenth of Shevat, the yahrtzeit of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, I would hereby suggest the following: 1. On the Shabbos before the yahrtzeit [each chasid] should attempt to be called for an aliyah to the Torah. 2. If there are not enough aliyos the Torah should be read [a number of times] in different rooms. However, no additions should be made to the number of aliyos [at each reading]. 3. The congregation should see to it that the Maftir should be the most respected congregant, as determined by the majority; alternatively, the choice should be determined by lot. 4. The congregation should choose someone to lead the prayers on the day of the yahrtzeit. It is proper to divide [the honor, choosing] one person to lead Maariv, a second to lead Shacharis, and a third - Minchah. In this way a greater number of Anash will have the privilege. 5. A [yahrtzeit] candle should be lit that will burn throughout the 24 hours. If possible, the candle should be of beeswax. 6. Five candles should burn during the prayer services. 7. After each prayer service (and in the morning, [this means] after the reading of Tehillim), the sheliach tzibbur should study (or at least conclude the study of) ch. 24 of Mishnayos Keilim and ch. 7 of Mishnayos Mikvaos. He should then recite the mishnah beginning "Rabbi Chananyah ben Akashya...," followed silently by a few lines of Tanya, and Kaddish deRabbanan. 8. After Maariv, part of the maamar (Basi LeGani) that was released for the day of the demise should be recited from memory. If there is no one to do this from memory, it should be studied from the text. This should also be done after Shacharis, and the maamar should be concluded after Minchah. 9. Before Shacharis, a chapter of Tanya should be studied. This should also be done after Minchah. 10. In the morning, before prayer, charity should be given to those institutions that are related to our Nasi, my revered father-in-law, of sainted memory. Donations should be made on behalf of oneself and on behalf of each member of one's family. The same should be done after Minchah. 11. After Shacharis and the recitation of the maamar, each individual should read a pidyon nefesh. (It goes without saying that a gartl is worn during the reading.) Those who had the privilege of entering [the saintly Rebbe's study] for yechidus, or at least of seeing his face, should - while reading the pidyon nefesh - picture themselves as standing before him. The pidyon nefesh should then be placed between the pages of a maamar or kuntreis, etc., of his teachings, and sent, if possible on the same day, to be read at his graveside. 12. In the course of the day one should study chapters of Mishnayos that begin with the letters of his name. 13. In the course of the day one should participate in a farbrengen. 14. In the course of the day one should set aside a time during which to tell one's family about the saintly Rebbe, and about the spiritual tasks at which he toiled throughout all the days of his life. 15. In the course of the day, people (to whom this task is appropriate) should visit synagogues and houses of study in their cities and cite a statement or an adage drawn from the teachings of the saintly Rebbe. They should explain how he loved every Jew. [Furthermore,] they should make known and explain the practice that he instituted of reciting Tehillim every day, studying the daily portion of Chumash with the commentary of Rashi, and, where appropriate, studying the Tanya as he divided it into daily readings throughout the year. If possible this should all be done in the course of a farbrengen. 16. In the course of the day, people (who are fit for the task) should visit centers of observant youth - and, in a neighborly spirit, should make every endeavor to also visit centers for the young people who are not yet observant - in order to explain to them the warm love that the saintly Rebbe constantly had for them. It should be explained to these people what he expected of them; they should be told of the hope and the trust that he placed in them - that they would ultimately fulfill their task of strengthening the observance of Judaism and disseminating the study of Torah with all the energy, warmth and vitality that characterize youth. * * * If prevailing conditions allow, all of the above should of course be continued during the days following the yahrtzeit, and particularly on the following Shabbos. * * * May G-d hasten the coming of our Redeemer, and then "those who repose in the dust will awaken and sing joyful praises." And our Nasi among them will give us wondrous tidings, and lead us along the path that leads up to the House of G-d. [Signed:] Menachem Mendel Schneerson _______________ 2. Reprinted from "Sefer Haminhagim - The Book of Chabad-Lubavitch Customs," published by Kehot Publication Society, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213. ******************** * THE REBBE WRITES * ******************** 3 TAMUZ, 5710 (1950) ...Many are seeking an explanation of the characteristic greatness of the Chabad leaders in general, and the leader of our generation, my father-in-law, of blessed memory, in particular, in terms of the following designations: A man of great self-sacrifice, a great Torah scholar, a man of integrity, a tzadik, a possessor of Divine inspiration, able to perform miracles, etc. etc. These praises are even more significant as they are defined by the teachings of Chasidut. Yet in all this, the main point is absent. Furthermore (and this is essentially the main point), the Rebbe's special greatness is by virtue of his unique relationship with us, his congregation of chasidim, and with those who are connected to him. And this is because he is the Nasi -- the leader of Chabad. For in general, the Nasi is called "the head of the community of Israel": in relation to them, he is their head and brain; it is through him that they derive their vitality. By cleaving to the Nasi, they connect and unite themselves with their source Above. ...Each and every one of us should know, that is, he should study and fix in his mind, that the Rebbe is the Nasi and the head, it is from him and through him that everything both physical and spiritual flows, and it is through connecting oneself with him ([the Rebbe] has already indicated in his letters how to do this [3]) that one connects and unites oneself with one's source, and the source of sources, ever higher and higher. * 4 IYAR, 5710 (1950) ...As I do not know you personally, and therefore do not know which approach would be the most readily acceptable to you in explaining my views, I will use the simplest terms to illustrate the matter, for certainly, simpler is better: Every individual, at every moment and with every action he is poised to take, stands at a crossroads (at least in the personal sense), and can proceed either to the right or to the left. In particular, at a time of great communal turmoil and shock, each and every one of us has a general mission and must take certain action. "Histalkut" means ascent from one plane of existence to a higher, more spiritual plane; the "body follows the lead of the head," as the two are attached. Therefore, each and every one of us who is connected to the Rebbe, the leader of thousands of Jews, must likewise strive to ascend to greater spirituality, by taking actions such as these, which previously he might not have taken... * 17 ELUL, 5710 (1950) ...Every Jewish man and woman should know that each good deed he or she does hastens the end of the exile and darkness, and brings the true and Final Redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu that much closer. This is the only way to achieve redemption of the Jewish people, as Moshe Rabbenu told the nation of Israel over three thousand years ago (as related in the Torah of G-d, Parshat Nitzavim, chapter 30) at length. Concerning your request that I mention you at the grave of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, I will certainly do so. As regards your having written that you do not understand this matter: Surely one does not need to first study the effect eating, drinking and sleeping have on the physical body and the soul before doing so. Rather, one goes right ahead and acts even though the full repercussions are not totally understood. The same holds true for the matter at hand. As for what you wrote concerning the appearance of conversing with the dead, G-d forbid, and directing one's thoughts to an entity other than G-d, Heaven forbid: You can certainly understand on your own that this is not the case, as Calev, the son of Yefuneh, as well as many Tannaim, Amoraim and tzadikim throughout the generations have conducted themselves thus. In short, in answer to your question: when people came to the Rebbe for a blessing they did so not because of the superiority of his physical body, but because of the superiority of his soul. Death only pertains to the physical body, for the soul is eternal, especially the soul of a tzadik, to whom Gehinom ["hell"] and punishment have no relevance. The passing of a tzadik is merely a departure, an ascent to a higher plane, and cannot therefore be termed "death," as is explained in the Zohar (volume 3, page 71). _______________ 3. See article "Yud Shevat." Ed. ************** * YUD SHEVAT * ************** By Rabbi Shmuel Butman "You ask how you can be bound to me when I do not know you personally... the true bond is created by studying Torah. When you study my discourses, read the talks and associate with those dear to me... and you fulfill my request... in this is the bond." Next Wednesday, January 11, on 10 Shevat, we commemorate the yahrtzeit of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. The above lines were written by the Previous Rebbe in response to the question of how to become bound with him. The tenth of Shevat is also the 45th anniversary of our Rebbe's acceptance of leadership. How do we maintain and enhance our connection with the leader of our generation? By studying his talks and by following his directives. In a talk in 5746 (1986) the Rebbe said: "Every single Jew must perform his Divine service in a manner similar to and befitting the days of Moshiach and the subsequent era of the Resurrection of the Dead. This is exhibited first and foremost through faith, anticipation and knowledge that supernatural events will occur in the days of Moshiach, namely, the Resurrection of the Dead.... "Belief in these concepts must be with certainty, and must be as unshakably firm as the belief in the Ten Commandments. Obviously the belief in the Resurrection of the Dead requires that same degree of certainty and anticipation. This must be emphasized so much more in our present generation, when many messianic signs are unfolding. These constitute a clear indication that Moshiach is already present in the world. Moreover, he is already a prominent Jewish leader, 'a king from the House of David, deeply absorbed in the study of Torah,' etc. Therefore, in our present generation, great emphasis must be placed on belief in the coming of Moshiach and anything that relates to it." In these last moments before the true and complete Redemption, may we fill our time with only good--the good of Torah and mitzvot; with study of the Rebbe's teachings (especially those relating to Moshiach and the Redemption as the Rebbe emphasized numerous times the importance of such study in preparing ourselves for the messianic era); and with fulfilling all of the Rebbe's directives, until the time that we are reunited with the Rebbe once again--"and he will redeem us." ***************************** * THERE IS NO QUESTION * * A Tribute to the Rebbe * * on 45 Years of Leadership * ***************************** By Rabbi Avraham Kotlarsky The fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel (the Rebbe Maharash), had a chasid who was a successful businessman. Before undertaking any significant deal, he always consulted the Rebbe and followed his instructions. One time, the chasid was offered a fabulous opportunity. If successful--and most certainly it would be--he would make millions. The deal, however, required that he invest almost his entire fortune. Before the chasid would make such a major move, he set off to the city of Lubavitch to seek the Rebbe's advice. After hearing the details of the proposition the Rebbe Maharash told him that he should not go through with the deal. The chasid was stunned. He tried to convince the Rebbe that this was a sound proposal; he described all of the great profits to be made, but to no avail. The Rebbe's answer was final: NO! A few days later, the would-be business partners came to the chasid. When they heard that he was not interested, based upon the Rebbe's answer, they began to laugh at him. "Certainly you didn't understand the Rebbe's words," they told him. "And anyway, maybe there were some important details you left out that would solicit a different answer. After all," they said, "isn't there a saying that 'according to how you ask, that is how you're answered'? Go back to the Rebbe and make sure to tell him all the details. You'll see, the answer will be different this time." Back to Lubavitch the chasid went. "Rebbe," he pleaded, "obviously I did not explain myself well enough last time. We're talking about tremendous sums of money. I can become rich overnight and give much tzedaka [charity] as well..." The Rebbe listened patiently once again, and at the end of the presentation his answer was simple and direct: "No. It's not worthwhile." The chasid made his way home, thinking about all the money he could have made, if only the Rebbe would have agreed. "The Rebbe doesn't even explain his reasons," thought the chasid. But his friends and family wouldn't let up. "It's forbidden to lose such an opportunity," they cried. "Go back to the Rebbe again and certainly the answer will be different." In his third attempt, the chasid tried everything, even begging the Rebbe to let him make the deal, but the Rebbe answered once again: "No." When the chasid came home, he couldn't stand up to the pressure of family and friends, and contrary to the Rebbe's advice, he signed the deal. He quieted his conscience by telling himself that he would now really give a lot of tzedaka. Unfortunately, things did not go well. In a short while, the chasid lost all his money. The chasid realized how wrong it was to not follow the Rebbe's instruction. Full of regret, he made his way back a fourth time to see the Rebbe. The chasid spent a long time in private with the Rebbe. When he came out, he revealed only one thing the Rebbe had told him. "There are people," said the Rebbe, "big businessmen among them, who come to ask my advice concerning important matters. Sometimes the issues are quite complex; matters which I have never engaged in, nor did my ancestors. So then why do they ask me my advice, and follow my instructions and counsel? "There are three answers, each one matching a different type of Jew who comes to me. "One person thinks, 'It's very simple. The Rebbe has Ruach HaKodesh--Divine Inspiration! The Rebbe is a G-dly man, a prophet. It is G-d's words coming from his mouth and therefore we must follow him, no questions asked!' "Another type," continued the Rebbe, "is a person who operates on a different level, somewhat more down to earth. 'The Rebbe studies Torah all the time and serves G-d with his entire being. His intellect is totally nullified to G-d's Will. Therefore, everything he says stems from Torah and certainly his words will be fulfilled.' "The third type," explained the Rebbe, "says, 'The Rebbe meets so many people, from all over the world and from all walks of life. He has acquired an incredibly broad knowledge of worldly matters. With this knowledge and his ability to see things from many different angles, the Rebbe sees what others cannot. Therefore, we must listen to him.' "Whichever group you might belong to," the Rebbe Maharash concluded, "you should never have gone through with the deal after hearing from me not once, not twice, but three times clearly 'no!'" * * * I remember the morning of Gimmel Tammuz 5754/1994, when I walked into the Chabad House for Sunday morning services. One of the people who had come to pray asked me, "What do we do now?" What do we do now? The Rebbe told us that the Redemption is at the door; that we must prepare ourselves and the whole world for the revelation of Moshiach. It was true that even while the Rebbe was critically ill we believed that G-d would heal the Rebbe; that the Redemption we so eagerly awaited and anticipated would be heralded in with the revelation of the Rebbe as Moshiach, and that he would miraculously lead us to the Holy Land. What now? Who will lead us on? Was the Rebbe wrong? Is the Redemption, after all, a beautiful dream to take place in another time, another place, but not in this "real" world of sorrow and pain? Some people see in the Rebbe a great charismatic leader. Others see a Torah genius. Others emphasize the Rebbe's knack for finding the right button to push in the hearts of his followers, his admirers, or any stranger who approached him at Sunday dollars. [4] Others speak of the Rebbe's organizational skills and his foresight that has put him light-years ahead of prevailing thought. The final word is that the Rebbe is a G-dly man. The Rebbe is not "us-plus," so to speak, a person who is merely more brilliant, more sensitive, more insightful, more spiritual, and capable of leadership than we. Rather, his teachings and personal life reveal him to be carved from a different substance altogether. His every word--carefully chosen and full of meaning; his every move-- calculated, corresponding to Divine Emanations in a world concealed from our sight; someone transplanted from another world, to bring light to a darkened world, to lead the final generation of exile to Redemption. The Rebbe is revealed to each person as he perceives the Rebbe. Like the three types of Jews who came to the Rebbe Maharash, every individual relates to the Rebbe on a different level. Not once, not twice, nor three times, but literally hundreds of times--publicly and privately, in writing and verbally--the Rebbe has told all Jews of this generation what we must do in these last moments before the Redemption: "Do everything you can to bring Moshiach, here and now." (28 Nisan, 5751-1991) "...Publicize to all people that we have merited that G-d has chosen and appointed an individual incomparably greater than all other people in this generation as the judge, adviser and prophet of the generation to give instructions and advice in both the Divine service and daily activities of all Jews ... up to and including the main prophecy, "Redemption is imminent" and "Moshiach is coming." (Shabbat Shoftim, 5751-1991) "All the service that was expected of the Jewish people in exile has been completed and perfected and we are now ready to receive Moshiach ... Moshiach not only exists, but is also revealed. All that remains is for us to receive and greet Moshiach in actual fact." (Shabbat Vayeira, 5752-1991) "Every sheliach [emissary of the Rebbe] must prepare himself and all the Jews of his neighborhood, city, etc., to greet Moshiach through explaining the concept of Moshiach, as discussed in the Written and Oral Torah, in a way that each and every individual can relate to .... Since this is the necessary service of the time, it is self-understood that this is incumbent upon every single Jew, without any exception." (Shabbat Chayei Sarah, 5752-1991) The Rebbe has told us to learn more about Moshiach and the Redemption; to start "living with Moshiach" by increasing our acts of kindness and mitzvot; to share this message with others. Whatever group we belong to, regardless of how we define ourselves and at what level of faith we may operate, we should listen to the Rebbe. There is no question that all that the Rebbe said will be fulfilled. There is no question that what the Rebbe said is not open now to reinterpretation. There is no question that we will see the Redemption very soon unfold before our eyes, precisely as the Rebbe said. There is no question what we must do now, for everything the Rebbe has said to us, all of the directions that he has given to this generation, must continue on and with greater strength, with more vigor and vitality. We are the generation of the Redemption. And we will make it happen. Let us commit ourselves to fulfilling the Rebbe's directives, and then we will be able to see the realization of the Rebbe's most important prophecy, the revelation of Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption. ---------- 4. In the years 1986-1992, the Rebbe, every Sunday, personally distributed to each of the thousands of visitors who came to receive his blessings a dollar to give to charity. ******************* * THE LAST DOLLAR * ******************* By Penina Abramson We were already on the subway headed back to Crown Heights when I said I felt "a little unsafe." The number three subway train to Brooklyn at 1:00 a.m. is not exactly a bastion of law-abiding citizens and three religious girls from the suburbs seemed somewhat incompatible with the setting. So at the next stop the three of us got out to take a cab. The first cab we hailed refused to take us because Crown Heights was too out of the way. The second cab we hailed refused to take us because he didn't know where Crown Heights was. Finally at 1:30 in the morning on the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 14th Street, a cabbie pulled over and said, "Where to, ladies?" I couldn't place his accent right away. He tried to make small talk but we ignored him. Then over the radio came a news report from Israel: "... Over 15,000 people attended Nachum Waxman's funeral today in Israel," reported CBS. Before the three of us could muster up a response to the tragedy, the driver asked us, "Are you Jewish?" to which we cautiously responded, "yes." It was then that I noticed the name on his I.D. card: William Guttman. Who was William Guttman, leisurely driving a cab through Manhattan on the night shift? I tried to recall the nationality of my fifth grade teacher whose accent I was sure this man shared. Finally I asked him as he had just asked us, "Are you Jewish?" "With a name like Guttman, what do you think?" The notion that we could have mistaken him for anything but a Jew seemed to stir up in him a distilled pride. "Where are you from?" I asked, figuring Russia or perhaps Morocco. "Auschwitz." William Guttman was a survivor. "My parents lived in Budapest. I was four years old when they took us. My mother worked in the frau lager [women's camp] and then they put her in the gas chamber. My father died in the labor camp. I never really knew my parents. I don't even know if I have brothers and sisters." He had a matter-of-factness about him. This is who I am. "I went to an orphanage after the war," he continued, "and the Red Cross took me to America. I had no family when I came. I married an Israeli, but we are not religious. I don't have the yarmulke and I work seven days to help my son be a doctor. He finishes medical school in two months." "You must be so proud of him." "Yes. I'm not religious. But I have a lot of mazal [good luck]." Mazal, he said to us. How does a Jew who survived Auschwitz believe that he has had mazal? Then he asked us, "Your parents are chasidim?" The chasidim of our families got lost somewhere between the shtetl [old European town] and suburbia a long, long time ago. My memories from youth had little to do with Budapest and my concerns were not bound up with survival. And yet we told William Guttman that we were Lubavitchers. William Guttman was from the old country, from the camps, but we were the Lubavitchers. It seemed incongruous. We asked him if he had heard of Lubavitch. "Lubavitch, I know it well. I have a mazal'dike dollar from the Rebbe. He's the best Rebbe in the whole world. He's not a man like I am a man. I went to him and he gave me a dollar and told me I'll have mazal and my son will have hatzlocha [success]. Everything since then is good. Everything for me since I spoke to the Rebbe is good. I wouldn't give away my dollar if it was the last dollar I owned." There was a deep sincerity, a power of conviction, in what he stammered out in his broken English. "The Rebbe spoke to me in Hungarian," he claimed. "He was from Hungary, did you know?" I was going to correct him and then thought better of it. The Rebbe was from Hungary to a Hungarian Jew. And from Brazil. And from Hong Kong. And from wherever the Jew whose eyes he looked into was from. And again he repeated, "I'm not religious. And my wife is not religious. But she called the Beth Israel Hospital every day to see how the Rebbe was doing. When he passed away we cried for three days." The weight of his words barely had time to sink in before he added, "I think he's coming back. The Rebbe is a leader. He is a great soul and a great soul doesn't die." I told him, "I think you're right. In the meantime, the Rebbe left us with instructions and showed us how to fulfill our obligations as Jews." And he answered, "When you're born a Jew, it comes with obligations. You know it's special to be a Jew. Look, how many Jews are there?" William Guttman told us he didn't keep Shabbat and he didn't wear a yarmulke. But he cried for three days; the Rebbe was like a father who blessed him for the rest of his life. This is the love the Rebbe has for every Jew. The power of our connection with the Rebbe. "Zie Gezunt--be well," he said as we got out of the cab. He left us speechless until finally the one of us who had never met the Rebbe said, "Meeting that man brought me closer to the Rebbe." As I gingerly shut the door, I began to wonder how many William Guttmans there are from one end of the world to the other. ******************** * IT HAPPENED ONCE * ******************** By Rabbi Arye Preger It was right before Purim, 5753 (1993), when we received a phone call asking if we could accommodate a couple from Borough Park--Gerrer chasidim--for Shabbat in Crown Heights. The couple with their young child arrived Friday afternoon, but it wasn't until during the Friday night meal that we had a chance to chat. Mr. B. told me in a whisper, "My wife does not know that the Lubavitcher Rebbe was our shadchan [matchmaker]." My guest continued, "A few years ago, my brother-in-law came to the Rebbe during 'Sunday dollars.' He asked the Rebbe for a blessing for his sister, who had been married for quite a few years without being blessed with children. The Rebbe gave him three dollars and a blessing. Exactly nine months later triplets were born. "About two years ago, my wife and I were having problems in our marriage. Conditions worsened to the point that we divorced. I remained in New York and my ex-wife moved to Israel. "I went to the Rebbe one Sunday and asked for a blessing to find the right match. The Rebbe gave me a blessing as well as a dollar. "A little over a week later, soon after the Rebbe had his first stroke, the Rebbe appeared to me in a dream and told me, 'Do not search for another wife; return to your first one. If you have any doubts about the matter, wait until Purim and you will have a yeshua [salvation].' "I was a bit confused by this dream, so I discussed it with several Lubavitcher chasidim, who advised me to wait until Purim to see what happens before I decide. "On Purim a rabbi from Bnei Brak in Israel contacted me and informed me that my wife was interested in getting back together. We worked out our differences and our family was reunited once again. Since tonight is the first anniversary of our remarriage, I thought we should celebrate it here in Crown Heights and be together with the Rebbe." Not long after this occurrence I attended a wedding in Borough Park, and I recounted the story to a group of chasidim, most of whom were Satmar. One of the men who happened to be sitting next to me told me that when his wife was hospitalized in Rochester, Minnesota, the only ones who came to visit her and raise her morale were Lubavitcher chasidim. "A Rebbe who has such emissaries as dedicated as these in such far-flung places, even without performing miracles, is definitely worthy of redeeming the Jewish people from this dark exile and bringing us to the Redemption," he said. ======================================================= = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Bo, 5755 = =======================================================